Mumbai Cricket Association Honors Cricket Legends
MUMBAI: In a noteworthy announcement, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) declared during its 86th Annual General Meeting that it will name stands at Wankhede Stadium after prominent figures in Indian cricket, including current Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma, former Indian captain Ajit Wadekar, and esteemed ex-ICC, BCCI, and MCA president Sharad Pawar.
The proposal to honor these cricketing stalwarts was introduced by MCA Apex Council member Milind Narvekar and supported by colleague Jitendra Awhad. The Divecha Pavilion Level 3 will be designated the Rohit Sharma Stand, recognizing Sharma’s leadership in securing India’s T20 World Cup victory last year in the USA and West Indies, as well as the ICC Champions Trophy in UAE earlier this year.
Furthermore, the Grand Stand Level 4 will be referred to as the Ajit Wadekar Stand, in memory of the legendary captain who guided India to its first Test series victories in West Indies and England in 1971. Additionally, the Grand Stand Level 3 will be named the Pawar Stand, honoring Sharad Pawar’s significant contributions as MCA president from 2001 to 2013 and his legacy in developing Mumbai cricket.
MCA president Ajinkya Naik expressed during the meeting, “Today’s decisions demonstrate our profound respect for the pillars of Mumbai cricket and our commitment to building a stronger future. These stands are a tribute to the legacy of those who have contributed to Mumbai’s cricketing tradition.” MCA Secretary Abhay Hadap also stated that the association is dedicated to preserving the legacy of key figures in the sport.
Prasad Wadekar, son of Ajit Wadekar, shared his delight, stating, “This is fantastic news for our family and a well-deserved tribute.” The recognition of Wadekar has been long-awaited; Prof. Ratnakar Shetty previously urged the MCA to honor him during an awards ceremony in March.
In addition, the MCA announced plans to name a lounge at the Wankhede Stadium after late former president Amol Kale, who passed away in 2024. This lounge will now be called the MCA Office Lounge as a tribute to Kale. The MCA also confirmed its commitment to enhancing the support for affiliated clubs by increasing their financial corpus to ₹75 crores, with aims to reach ₹100 crores in the future.
The MCA’s decisions reflect a keen focus on both honoring cricketing legends and investing in the grassroots infrastructure for the sport’s growth in Mumbai.
